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The end of the earth!


The end of the earth!
Photo Information
Copyright: Alli Hemingway (annagrace) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 15 N: 532] (3415)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2001-06
Categories: Nature
Camera: Nikon EM, Fujifilm ASA 200
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-05-18 17:54
Viewed: 731
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This photo was taken in Sagres, the southwestern most point of Europe. This natural beauty of this place is breathtaking - an oddly flat land that ends up in steep cliffs plunging into a turquoise Atlantic Ocean. Sagres is the most south-westerly community in continental Europe. The town overlooks the Bay of Sagres, which is flanked by two headlands: Atalaia Point and Sagres Point. Looking at the grey ramparts of the fortress of Sagres Point and the 10 km arc of sheer cliffs to the lighthouse at Cape St. Vincent, you get a real feeling for the tremendous historical importance of this place.

It was to this place that the Infante D. Henrique, Prince Henry the Navigator, came in the 15th century to work on his obsession to push back the frontiers of the known world. It is generally accepted that he sited his headquarters and School of Navigation at Sagres, with buildings believed to have been situated on the headland within the walls of the fortress, which were rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. The only building still surviving in its original form is the simple little church.

When Henry began master-minding and directing operations at Sagres and Lagos in 1419, the known southern limit of the Atlantic Ocean was the dreaded Cape Bojador in West Africa just below latitude 27ºN. Apart from all the superstitions about seething serpents and monsters, it is notoriously dangerous because of the violence of its waves and currents, and the treacherous nature of its shallows and frequent mists. Many attempts failed before the barrier was finally overcome by the Portuguese in 1434. The first European captain to round Cape Bojador was Gil Eanes, of Lagos, and his heroic feat represented perhaps the greatest achievement of Henry's lifetime.

No doubt Henry would have been fascinated too by the exploits of that other great voyager of the late 15th century, Christopher Columbus. Columbus was 24 years old when he ended up on the doorstep of the Sagres School of Navigation. He was with an armed convoy on its way from Genoa to England in May 1476 when it was attacked by pirates off Cape St Vincent. His ship went down in the ensuing fight and, though wounded, he managed to escape by swimming six miles to shore. How long he spent in the Algarve is not known. However it was later, after the death of his wife that he developed his passionate quest to discover the New World.(excerpted from Saudades.org)

This is a scanned photo. Dust was removed. It is otherwise unchanged.
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Critiques [Translate]

Very beautiful picture, I adore the sea, and all yours
mysteries, it is a feather that the beaches of Europe have
a very small extension in sand, but it wins
in the beauty of the green of his sea, I live in Santos,
coastal city, with a vast extension of sand
in the beach, but the sea nor it arrives close to this coloration.
But nor everything is perfect.
This picture is wonderful.
Congratulations

Sérgio

Your picture is wonderful and I liked very much the note. I´m brasilian ,living in coast and some times I try to imagine whow the navigators were crazy. Congrats , Fernanda.

  • Great 
  • fer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 839 W: 131 N: 933] (7997)
  • [2005-05-20 9:14]

Hi Allison!
Great shot of my country!
I hope you like it?
Very nice note.
Obrigado
Fernando

  • Great 
  • LuciG Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1382 W: 154 N: 743] (8650)
  • [2005-10-10 16:49]

ok! I must confess I'm speachless! Such a beautiful landscape and so vivid colors!!
Thanks for sharing!
Congratulations again ;)
Luci

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